Owakudani / 663highland · CC BY 2.5
ITINERARY
Hakone in One Day: Owakudani, Hakone Shrine and Lake Ashi from Hakone-Yumoto3 stops, in the order with the least travel time
With just one day, stick to three places up in the mountains: start at the volcanic valley of Owakudani, then head down to Lake Ashi and Hakone Shrine on its shore.
Planned and checked by Waka Travel (Japan) ·
- Trip
- Day trip
- Stops
- 3
- Total travel
- 3 htrain & bus
Saves 23 min of travel compared with the obvious order(3 h 23 min → 3 h)
Assumes you arrive at Hakone-Yumoto Station at 10:30 and leave Hakone-Yumoto Station at 17:30 (a typical schedule when coming from the Tokyo area).
Owakudani can be closed to visitors, and the Hakone Ropeway suspended, because of volcanic activity (this actually happened in 2015 and 2019). Check the Hakone Ropeway's service status before you go. Mountain routes take much longer than the straight-line distance suggests, so leave more time than shown. Changing between the mountain train, cable car and ropeway can take 20–40 minutes longer than shown.
Route and arrival times
All times are Japan time (JST), in 24-hour format.
Day 110:30–17:30 · travel 3 h
- 10:30Hakone-Yumoto Station 箱根湯本駅Depart
- ↓ Travel 52 min
- 11:22Owakudani 大涌谷1 h
- 12:22Lunch 1 h
- ↓ Travel 41 min
- 14:03Hakone Shrine 箱根神社1 h
- ↓ Travel 30 min
- 15:33Lake Ashi 芦ノ湖1 h
- ↓ Travel 58 min
- 17:30Hakone-Yumoto Station 箱根湯本駅Arrive
Travel times are estimates based on straight-line distance. They don't include transfers, timetables or opening hours (how far off they can be).
If you stay overnight in Hakone (general guide)
| If you're mainly visiting | Area to stay |
|---|---|
| The Open-Air Museum, Gora (mid-mountain) | Gora 強羅 |
| Lake Ashi, Hakone Shrine (mountaintop) | Moto-Hakone / Hakone-machi 元箱根・箱根町 |
| Arriving late or leaving early | Hakone-Yumoto 箱根湯本 |
| Hot springs are the priority | Gora / Sengokuhara 強羅・仙石原 |
General guidance, not calculated by this site.
If you have time
- Hakone Checkpoint 箱根関所
- The Hakone Open-Air Museum 彫刻の森美術館
- Pola Museum of Art ポーラ美術館
Left out to keep each day manageable.
Why this order
1 notes
- On the last day you finish at Lake Ashi and get back to Hakone-Yumoto Station in 58 min (arriving 17:30).
FAQ
Can you see these 3 classic Hakone sights in a day?
Yes. In this order, even the longest day ends around 17:30, and travel adds up to 3 h in one day (travel times are estimates based on straight-line distance).
How do I get from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto?
The Odakyu Romancecar limited express runs directly from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto in about 80 minutes. All seats are reserved, so you need a limited express ticket on top of the regular fare. Regular Odakyu express trains need only the regular ticket, but seats aren't guaranteed, and the ride takes about two hours.
What does the Hakone Freepass cover?
The Hakone Freepass from Shinjuku includes a round trip between Shinjuku and Odawara on the Odakyu Line, plus the Hakone Tozan Train, Hakone Tozan Cable Car, Hakone Ropeway, Hakone Sightseeing Cruise and buses in designated areas (Hakone Tozan Bus, the Tourist Attraction Sightseeing Bus, Odakyu Highway Bus and Tokai Bus). From Shinjuku it is valid for 2 or 3 days. The Romancecar is not included: you need a separate Romancecar ticket.
What if the Hakone Ropeway or Owakudani is closed?
Owakudani can be closed and the ropeway suspended because of volcanic activity (it happened in 2015 and 2019). Check the Hakone Ropeway's service status on the day before you set off, and if it isn't running, rework the day around the other stops.
Can I send my luggage ahead to my Hakone hotel?
Yes, at partner hotels. Odakyu's Hakone baggage delivery service has a counter inside Hakone-Yumoto Station: drop your bags off by 12:00 and they're delivered to your hotel the same day. The service is limited to affiliated hotels, so check that yours is one of them.